Grace Gawthrope Peterson

“Gracie” Peterson was a pupil of Edna Riggs of Monmouth College and together they helped to establish a music department that was one of the largest and strongest in the College.  Gracie was a 1922 graduate from the Conservatory and soon after was invited to become a part of the faculty at Monmouth College.  For over fifty years she participated actively on Monmouth’s campus.  She and Professor Riggs performed twin-piano concerts that were very popular for many years at MC.  For some time there also was the “Gracie Show,” as it came to be called: near professional vaudeville shows that Professor Peterson planned and directed.  They ran for several nights, often on the stage at the Rivoli Theater in downtown Monmouth.  She directed the choir at Second United Presbyterian Church which, over time, became known unofficially as “Gracie’s Choir.”  Since 1932 she served yearly as the official pianist of the American Legion Auxiliary State convention.  Grace also became a habitual world traveler and after every major trip she presented a musical program based on her adventures.  The proceeds from these funded her next trip.  Dr. William Urban put it best when he wrote: “[Grace’s] place in the history of Monmouth College is secure, for she has done more in the last half-century than anyone, any Director of Alumni or Director of Development, to cement the ties between the institution and its graduates so necessary to any college.” (Urban, A History of MC through its 5th Quarter Century)

 

Folder List

 

Gracie Peterson Box 1:

  • Events and Announcements

  • Audio

  • Programs

  • Clippings

  • Misc. Finances

  • Dutch Wedding

 

Gracie Peterson Box 2:

  • Misc. Awards/Plaques of recognition

Gracie Peterson Box 3       5 folders,  22 envelopes

  • Photos:1992
  • "Monmouth College's Amazing Grace" by James Hernandez
  • Portraits
  • Misc. photographs
  • Pictures: 1935-1969; and other years
  • Birthday pictures: 2 envelopes
  • 3/1992 90th birthday
  • 2/1992 90th birthday
  • 90th birthday: 2 envelopes
  • 3/1984 82nd birthday
  • 80th birthday: 2 envelopes
  • 11/10/1992
  • A Christmas concert
  • June 1981
  • Unknown : 7 envelopes

 

Gracie Peterson Box 4   scrapbooks

  • Brownish-Red Scrapbook: 1947-1953   newspaper articles about shows, poems, drawn pictures, correspondence about     productions, pictures
  • Blue plastic spiral binder: alumni reunions, letters, pictures, 1990 dedications (including her own)

 

Gracie Peterson Box 5    scrapbooks

  • Emerald scrapbook: Crimson Clan 1970's?
  • Khaki scrapbook: letters to Gracie April 1922-July1983
  • Green "Practical Ideas for Kitchen Convenience": articles, letters, pictures

Gracie Peterson Box 6   scrapbooks

  • Brownish red scrapbook: recitals 1933-1953
  • Tan book: 1942-1943
  • Light blue 3-ring binder: concerts and recitals

Gracie Peterson Box 7    photos

  • Large photos 1946-1948

Gracie Peterson Box 8    photos

  • Large photos 1949-1950

Gracie Peterson Box 9    photos

  • Medium photos 1944, 46, 48-53

Gracie Peterson Box 10    photos

  • Medium photos 1944-1949 and miscellaneous
  • Monmouth College in Words and Music

Gracie Peterson Box 11    photos

  • Small photos 1944-1953

 

Audio/Video Box 1:

  • Interview with Grace Peterson by James Hernandez, 3/95 (VHS)

 

Audio/Video Box 2:

  • Gracie at College, 1979 (cassette)

  •  

Faculty Biographical Files Box 3:

  • Gracie Peterson

  •  

Music Box 1:

  • Girl’s Glee Club (3 Programs)

  • Faculty Recitals (3 Programs)

  • Programs 1925-1929 (12 Programs)

  • Programs 1921-1924 (11 Programs)

  • Programs 1930-1935 (9 Programs)

  • Programs 1936-1939, Folder 1 (7 Programs)

  • Programs 1936-1939, Folder 2 (4 Programs)

  • Programs 1940-1945 (15 Programs)

  • Programs 1946-1949, Folder 1 (4 Programs)

  • Programs 1946-1949, Folder 2 (3 Programs)

  • Programs 1950-1953, Folder 1 (4 Programs)

  • Programs 1950-1953, Folder 2 (2 Programs)

 

Music Box 2:

  • Programs 1963-1964, Folder 2 (1 Program)

  • Programs 1965-1966 (5 Programs)

  • Programs 1967 (3 Programs)

  • Programs 1968-1969 (1 Program)

  • Programs 1977-1979 (1 Program)

  • Programs 1985-1989 (1 Program)

  • Programs undated (2 Programs)

  • Sing Along with Gracie (book)

 

Gracie Peterson Photographs:

  • Birthday pictures (2 envelopes)

  • 3/92, 90th birthday

  • 2/92, 90th birthday

  • 90th birthday (2 envelopes)

  • Performance pictures (2 envelopes)

  • 4/85

  • 3/84, 82nd birthday

  • 80th birthday (2 envelopes)

  • 11/10/92

  • A Christmas concert

  • 6/81

  • Unknown pictures (7 envelopes)

  • Various photo albums

  • Several misc. photographs
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